This chapter focuses on Turkey's relations with Greece. There are several factors that combine to explain the surprising turn for the better in Greek–Turkish relations, one of which is the political ...
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This chapter focuses on Turkey's relations with Greece. There are several factors that combine to explain the surprising turn for the better in Greek–Turkish relations, one of which is the political and strategic changes occurring around Turkey from the late 1980s, which have intensified since the Gulf War. Another is the violent earthquakes that both Turkey and Greece experienced in 1999, after which each sent humanitarian aid to help ease their neighbour's plight. However, the chapter suggests that, despite the improvement in Greek–Turkish relations, there remain several serious differences between the two countries, particularly over questions of sovereignty and flying rights over the Aegean Sea.Less

What the neighbor to the west says: Greek–Turkish relations

Amikam Nachmani

Published in print: 2003-07-31

This chapter focuses on Turkey's relations with Greece. There are several factors that combine to explain the surprising turn for the better in Greek–Turkish relations, one of which is the political and strategic changes occurring around Turkey from the late 1980s, which have intensified since the Gulf War. Another is the violent earthquakes that both Turkey and Greece experienced in 1999, after which each sent humanitarian aid to help ease their neighbour's plight. However, the chapter suggests that, despite the improvement in Greek–Turkish relations, there remain several serious differences between the two countries, particularly over questions of sovereignty and flying rights over the Aegean Sea.

In this chapter, the author's notion of the Mediterranean as a place of exchange and connections does not imply a facile endorsement of the historical creolization of the basin. His notion of ...
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In this chapter, the author's notion of the Mediterranean as a place of exchange and connections does not imply a facile endorsement of the historical creolization of the basin. His notion of interconnectedness is one that does not hide tensions, inequalities, and the asymmetries of power among cultures. But besides disclosing the fluid Mediterranean cartographies of intertwined and entangled histories and cultures, of patterns of creolization, contamination, and crossovers between North and South, East and West, a fundamental component of the author's recovery of the Mediterranean heritage is also his revisiting of the culture of ancient Greece. The author resorts to a geophilosophical explanation to describe how the fractal geography of the Aegean Sea was crucial to the development of ancient Greek thought. The presence of land bordering—and thus limiting—water, and of water bordering, and therefore containing, the liquid expanse of the sea, was internalized by ancient Greek culture, allowing it to avoid the fundamentalism of land and sea that the author has been located as the central aspect of the quest for dominance of Occidentalism.Less

Of Land and Sea

Franco Cassano

Published in print: 2012-05-01

In this chapter, the author's notion of the Mediterranean as a place of exchange and connections does not imply a facile endorsement of the historical creolization of the basin. His notion of interconnectedness is one that does not hide tensions, inequalities, and the asymmetries of power among cultures. But besides disclosing the fluid Mediterranean cartographies of intertwined and entangled histories and cultures, of patterns of creolization, contamination, and crossovers between North and South, East and West, a fundamental component of the author's recovery of the Mediterranean heritage is also his revisiting of the culture of ancient Greece. The author resorts to a geophilosophical explanation to describe how the fractal geography of the Aegean Sea was crucial to the development of ancient Greek thought. The presence of land bordering—and thus limiting—water, and of water bordering, and therefore containing, the liquid expanse of the sea, was internalized by ancient Greek culture, allowing it to avoid the fundamentalism of land and sea that the author has been located as the central aspect of the quest for dominance of Occidentalism.

This chapter looks at how perceptions of the Aegean space change as they are conveyed across different ‘genres’ (visual images, such as the map attributed to the Milesian philosopher Anaximander; ...
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This chapter looks at how perceptions of the Aegean space change as they are conveyed across different ‘genres’ (visual images, such as the map attributed to the Milesian philosopher Anaximander; catalogue texts, as represented by the Periegesis of Hecataeus; drama, and in particular Aeschylus’ Persians; and prose narrative, specifically Herodotus’ Histories) and across time (from the mid-sixth century to the end of the fifth century BC, a period marked by a significant recalibration in the balance of power in this area). What emerges is the strong influence of genre, as well as the contingent historical situation, on the perception (and presentation) of this disputed space.Less

Paola Ceccarelli

Published in print: 2015-12-01

This chapter looks at how perceptions of the Aegean space change as they are conveyed across different ‘genres’ (visual images, such as the map attributed to the Milesian philosopher Anaximander; catalogue texts, as represented by the Periegesis of Hecataeus; drama, and in particular Aeschylus’ Persians; and prose narrative, specifically Herodotus’ Histories) and across time (from the mid-sixth century to the end of the fifth century BC, a period marked by a significant recalibration in the balance of power in this area). What emerges is the strong influence of genre, as well as the contingent historical situation, on the perception (and presentation) of this disputed space.

This chapter examines the extensive Delian epigraphic record (proxeny and other honorific decrees, references to crowns and other honours as these appear in the Delian accounts), in order to ...
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This chapter examines the extensive Delian epigraphic record (proxeny and other honorific decrees, references to crowns and other honours as these appear in the Delian accounts), in order to reconstruct the Delian network of honours. The focus is proxeny decrees, because of their significantly large number. The chapter discusses the issues of audience and purpose of publication of decrees. Using the ethnic names of the honorands as the basis of the study, it shows that the network of honours was geographically immense, with the southern Aegean as the primary region of local interaction, and with specific clustering beyond this primary region. This character of the network may be related to Delos’ insularity, on one hand, and the presence of a large regional sanctuary, on the other.Less

Proxenies, Statues, Crowns : The Delian Network of Honours

Christy Constantakopoulou

Published in print: 2017-09-21

This chapter examines the extensive Delian epigraphic record (proxeny and other honorific decrees, references to crowns and other honours as these appear in the Delian accounts), in order to reconstruct the Delian network of honours. The focus is proxeny decrees, because of their significantly large number. The chapter discusses the issues of audience and purpose of publication of decrees. Using the ethnic names of the honorands as the basis of the study, it shows that the network of honours was geographically immense, with the southern Aegean as the primary region of local interaction, and with specific clustering beyond this primary region. This character of the network may be related to Delos’ insularity, on one hand, and the presence of a large regional sanctuary, on the other.

This chapter provides a methodological discussion on how to use the evidence included in the Delian inventories in order to write the social history of the dedicants. The inventories were produced by ...
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This chapter provides a methodological discussion on how to use the evidence included in the Delian inventories in order to write the social history of the dedicants. The inventories were produced by the Delian hieropoioi and recorded on an annual basis the dedications kept in the Delian treasuries. The chapter focuses particularly on dedications which are attached to named individuals and communities. It then discusses the material according to the parameters of gender, individual versus community dedications, elite dedicants, and distance of travel. Using the inventories we are able to reconstruct who came to the Delian sanctuary to dedicate objects.Less

The Social Dynamics of Dedication : The Delian Inventories of the Third Century BC

Christy Constantakopoulou

Published in print: 2017-09-21

This chapter provides a methodological discussion on how to use the evidence included in the Delian inventories in order to write the social history of the dedicants. The inventories were produced by the Delian hieropoioi and recorded on an annual basis the dedications kept in the Delian treasuries. The chapter focuses particularly on dedications which are attached to named individuals and communities. It then discusses the material according to the parameters of gender, individual versus community dedications, elite dedicants, and distance of travel. Using the inventories we are able to reconstruct who came to the Delian sanctuary to dedicate objects.

This book addresses the history of interaction in the Aegean world during the third century BC. The main focus is the island of Delos and its important regional sanctuary. Through a thorough ...
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This book addresses the history of interaction in the Aegean world during the third century BC. The main focus is the island of Delos and its important regional sanctuary. Through a thorough investigation of the Delian epigraphic and material evidence, it explores how and to which degree the islands of the southern Aegean formed active networks of political, religious, and cultural interaction. The book aims to show that this kind of regional interaction in the southern Aegean resulted in the creation of a regional identity, which was expressed, among other things, in the existence of a federal union of the islands, the so-called Islanders’ League. It is structured along the lines of four case studies which explore different types of networks around Delos: the federal organization of islands (Islanders’ League), the participation of Delian and other agents in the processes of monumentalization of the Delian landscape, the network of honours, and the social dynamics of dedication through the record of dedicants in the Delian inventories.Less

Aegean Interactions : Delos and its Networks in the Third Century

Christy Constantakopoulou

Published in print: 2017-09-21

This book addresses the history of interaction in the Aegean world during the third century BC. The main focus is the island of Delos and its important regional sanctuary. Through a thorough investigation of the Delian epigraphic and material evidence, it explores how and to which degree the islands of the southern Aegean formed active networks of political, religious, and cultural interaction. The book aims to show that this kind of regional interaction in the southern Aegean resulted in the creation of a regional identity, which was expressed, among other things, in the existence of a federal union of the islands, the so-called Islanders’ League. It is structured along the lines of four case studies which explore different types of networks around Delos: the federal organization of islands (Islanders’ League), the participation of Delian and other agents in the processes of monumentalization of the Delian landscape, the network of honours, and the social dynamics of dedication through the record of dedicants in the Delian inventories.

This chapter provides a summary of the previous case studies. It discusses the four networks examined over the course of the book,. The first case study explores the history of the Islanders’ League. ...
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This chapter provides a summary of the previous case studies. It discusses the four networks examined over the course of the book,. The first case study explores the history of the Islanders’ League. It proposes that the League is the expression of a strong regional island identity. The second case study focuses on the history of monumentalization of Delos. By exploring the different funding sources for building activity on Delos, it shows the active engagement of the Delian community, the Hellenistic kings, and other non-royal individuals in the monumentalization processes. The third case study examines the Delian network of honours which was geographically immense, with the southern Aegean as the primary region of local interaction, and with specific clustering beyond this primary region. The fourth case study focuses on the evidence of the Delian inventories in order to reconstruct the social dynamics of dedication.Less

Conclusions

Christy Constantakopoulou

Published in print: 2017-09-21

This chapter provides a summary of the previous case studies. It discusses the four networks examined over the course of the book,. The first case study explores the history of the Islanders’ League. It proposes that the League is the expression of a strong regional island identity. The second case study focuses on the history of monumentalization of Delos. By exploring the different funding sources for building activity on Delos, it shows the active engagement of the Delian community, the Hellenistic kings, and other non-royal individuals in the monumentalization processes. The third case study examines the Delian network of honours which was geographically immense, with the southern Aegean as the primary region of local interaction, and with specific clustering beyond this primary region. The fourth case study focuses on the evidence of the Delian inventories in order to reconstruct the social dynamics of dedication.

This chapter examines the history of the Islanders’ League (koinon ton nesioton), a federal organization centred on Delos, from the late fourth until the middle of the third century. It discusses the ...
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This chapter examines the history of the Islanders’ League (koinon ton nesioton), a federal organization centred on Delos, from the late fourth until the middle of the third century. It discusses the evidence of structure, key officials, and membership. The main source of evidence for the history of the League is a number of key decrees that the League produced and published on Delos, including the Nicouria decree. The chapter proposes that the Islanders’ League is the expression of a strong regional island identity, and emphasizes the islanders’ own agency in the processes of negotiation of power in the heavily contested space of the third-century Aegean.Less

The Politics of Connectivity : A History of the Islanders’ League

Christy Constantakopoulou

Published in print: 2017-09-21

This chapter examines the history of the Islanders’ League (koinon ton nesioton), a federal organization centred on Delos, from the late fourth until the middle of the third century. It discusses the evidence of structure, key officials, and membership. The main source of evidence for the history of the League is a number of key decrees that the League produced and published on Delos, including the Nicouria decree. The chapter proposes that the Islanders’ League is the expression of a strong regional island identity, and emphasizes the islanders’ own agency in the processes of negotiation of power in the heavily contested space of the third-century Aegean.

This book is a regional history of Lesbos and the Troad from the seventh century BC to the first century AD which examines the extent to which this geographical region became politically, ...
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This book is a regional history of Lesbos and the Troad from the seventh century BC to the first century AD which examines the extent to which this geographical region became politically, economically, and culturally integrated over this extended timeframe. The case studies in each chapter examine the various human and geographical factors which promoted regional integration, but also consider the political and identity-based considerations which limited integration and curtailed co-operation in particular areas. It is argued that this produced a situation in which an economically well-integrated region nevertheless remained politically fragmented and was only capable of unified action at moments of crisis. The book is split into two halves, with the first examining both the human and geographical factors which contributed to regional integration in the Troad and the politics of this process and the second examining the insular identity of Lesbos, the extent to which it was integrated into the mainland, and the consequences of this integration for the internal dynamic of the island. Cross-cutting these regional dynamics are the various imperial systems (Persian, Athenian, Macedonian, Attalid, Roman) which ruled this region and shaped its internal dynamics both through direct interventions in regional politics and through the pressures and incentives which these imperial systems created for local communities.Less

The Kingdom of Priam : Lesbos and the Troad between Anatolia and the Aegean

Aneurin Ellis-Evans

Published in print: 2019-04-25

This book is a regional history of Lesbos and the Troad from the seventh century BC to the first century AD which examines the extent to which this geographical region became politically, economically, and culturally integrated over this extended timeframe. The case studies in each chapter examine the various human and geographical factors which promoted regional integration, but also consider the political and identity-based considerations which limited integration and curtailed co-operation in particular areas. It is argued that this produced a situation in which an economically well-integrated region nevertheless remained politically fragmented and was only capable of unified action at moments of crisis. The book is split into two halves, with the first examining both the human and geographical factors which contributed to regional integration in the Troad and the politics of this process and the second examining the insular identity of Lesbos, the extent to which it was integrated into the mainland, and the consequences of this integration for the internal dynamic of the island. Cross-cutting these regional dynamics are the various imperial systems (Persian, Athenian, Macedonian, Attalid, Roman) which ruled this region and shaped its internal dynamics both through direct interventions in regional politics and through the pressures and incentives which these imperial systems created for local communities.

This chapter examines the development of the defence policies of Greece, Cyprus, and Albania. Worried about Turkey’s pressure and perceived revisionist goals mainly in the Aegean Sea, Greece has ...
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This chapter examines the development of the defence policies of Greece, Cyprus, and Albania. Worried about Turkey’s pressure and perceived revisionist goals mainly in the Aegean Sea, Greece has maintained powerful armed forces since the end of the cold war. Greek–Turkish tension has been eased, while Greece has reorganized the Hellenic Armed Forces and contributes a NATO Rapid Deployable Corps (the NRDC-GR), but it has significantly reduced its military budget. Along with Cyprus, which always seeks to hold a minimal balance of forces in the divided island, it faces additional challenges emanating from endemic instability in the wider region. A recent development of great significance was the establishment of a Greek–Cypriot–Israeli political and military cooperation. As for Albania, during the 1990s its small military apparatus virtually collapsed, but since the early 2000s the country has eventually opted for NATO membership (officially joining the alliance in 2009), and the Albanian Armed Forces has launched an ambitious modernization programme.Less

Greece, Cyprus, and Albania

Dionysios Chourchoulis

Published in print: 2018-06-28

This chapter examines the development of the defence policies of Greece, Cyprus, and Albania. Worried about Turkey’s pressure and perceived revisionist goals mainly in the Aegean Sea, Greece has maintained powerful armed forces since the end of the cold war. Greek–Turkish tension has been eased, while Greece has reorganized the Hellenic Armed Forces and contributes a NATO Rapid Deployable Corps (the NRDC-GR), but it has significantly reduced its military budget. Along with Cyprus, which always seeks to hold a minimal balance of forces in the divided island, it faces additional challenges emanating from endemic instability in the wider region. A recent development of great significance was the establishment of a Greek–Cypriot–Israeli political and military cooperation. As for Albania, during the 1990s its small military apparatus virtually collapsed, but since the early 2000s the country has eventually opted for NATO membership (officially joining the alliance in 2009), and the Albanian Armed Forces has launched an ambitious modernization programme.